AFRAID OF MINISTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 112, 15 May 1933, Page 8

AFRAID OF MINISTER.

COUNTRYMAN'S WEDDING. REV. J. iPATERSON'S STORY. "I have been in the ministry for 30 years, and during that time I have experienced many interesting episodes and met many interesting people," said the Rev. John Paterson, when addressing the Wanganui Rotary Club. He recounted several true stories concerning weddings in Australia, while' he also told of a maniac who wished to preach to the people concerning the end of the world, and who nearly strangled him after the service.

One morning, said Mr. Paterson, he was sitting in his study when the door suddenly opened and a man was pushed through, the door slamming behind him as he fell on the floor. Asked what he required, the man picked himself up and said he wished to get married that day. With his bride-to-be he had travelled 300 miles from the backblocks, and, as he had never seen a parson before, he was fearful of what would be done to him when he was being married, Mr. Paterson told him that it would be quite all right, and impressed upon him the fact that he was to say "I will" at the right time. "What are you going to do to me?" asked the man of Mr. Paterson. "Nothing," replied Mr. Paterson. "Oh, yes, you are," was the reply. "They told .mo to watch out till the parson got hold of me, because he was pretty rough." Bride in a Lace Curtain. Mr. Paterson said he had replied that the man would have nothing done to him, but the bridegroom, still disbelieving, asked to be let off lightly, taking a roll of notes out of his pockets as an inducement for lenient dealing. When Mr. Paterson refused, he was asked to buy the_ couple some clothes, but he was too busy, and referred them to the publican's wife and arranged to meet them at the church.

Arriving at the church during the .afternoon, Mr. Paterson found that the doors were not open, while outside there were hundreds of miners who' had arrived "to see the cockiee get married." They demanded to be let in, and poured into the church as eoon as the doors were open. Going into the vestry, Mr. Paterson found the bride dressed in a lace curtain with a conspicuous piece of pink ribbon, while the bridegroom was bedecked with a long frock coat, grey trousers and a wealth of orange blossom. "I Will." When the pair entered the church there was a roar of laughter from the miners, and Mr. Paterson had to warn them that unless they were quiet he could not proceed with the wedding. He commenced the ceremony in .silence, but had not said more than three or four words when the . bridegroom called out lotidly, "I will." • The miners gave three lusty cheers, and Mr. Paterson had to remonstrate with the bridegroom. ; "We got through the service eventually, punctuated by 'I wills,' and the cheers of the miners," said Mr. Paterson. "But when I asked the bridegroom to come into the vestry with me he steadfastly refused, saying that I wished to do something to him. Finally, I had to fetch the books from the vestry and get him to sign them in the. church. When I gave him the certificate, he inquired: 'How' does a bloke know when he's married. I don't feel any different.' He looked quite happy, however, arid the next morning I saw him .drive off with his wife • for the backblocks."